Shoe



March 2, 1943. M. a. BROWNE SHOE Filed Aug. 3 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HTTaEA/EK March 2, 1943. M. B. BROWNE 2,312,372

SHOE

Filed Aug. 3 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 2, 1943 T OFFICE SHOE Marion B. Browne, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Valley Shoe Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application August 3, 1942, Serial No. 453,397

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in shoes and has for its object the provision of a shoe in which a rigid suitably arched, contoured, and dimensioned member functions both as the central or intermediate part of the outer sole and as a support for the shank-portion of the shoe and in which also a heel and a leather or other flexible forepart of complementary contour, shape, and dimensions combine with said central member or shank piece in the formation of the outer sole, thereby effecting an economy in leather, eliminating the employment of present day metallic shank members, and improving the fit and artistic appearance of the shoe.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets)- Figure 1 is a, side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of a shoe constructed in accordance with and embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates in inverted plan the lastequipped body or partial lasted assembly comprising connected insole and upper of the shoe of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a, side elevational view of the partial shoe-assembly or shoe-body of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the combined central or shank piece of the outer sole and shank stiffview of the combined shank stiffening and outer sole member taken approximately on the line 55, Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of a slightly modified form of combined shank stifiening and outer sole member;

Figure 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the combined shank stiffening and outer sole member taken approximately on the line 1-7, Figure 4;

Figure 8 is an inverted plan view of the lastequipped shoe-body or partial shoe-assembly of Figures 2 and 3 with the combined shank stiffening and outer sole member of Figure 4 in secured or attached position thereupon;

Figure 9 is a fragmental side elevational view of the partial shoe-assembly or shoe-body of the forepart or so-called ball portion of the outer sole member of the shoe of Figure 1;

Figure 11 is an inverted plan view of the lastequipped shoe body or partial lasted assembly of Figure l, with the outer sole members of Figures 4 and 10 fixed in shoe-completing position thereupon;

Figure 12 is a fragmental side elevational view of the partl completed shoe assembly of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the heel of the shoe of Figure 1; Figure 14 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken approximately along the line l4--l4, Figure 13, illustrating in dotted lines the heel seated engaging-tongue of the shank-piece of Figure 4 in co-operative relation with the heel of Figure 13; and

Figure 15 is a fragmental side elevational view of the completed shoe of Figure 1.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention and. the various successive steps of its manufacture or production, A designates what may be termed the body of the shoe of Figure 1 of my invention. Such body A comprises an upper a and an insole b joined or lasted over a standard last 0 according to standard or approved present methods of shoe lasting well known to those skilled or versed in the art. Hence a detail description of the formation of the shoe-body or partial shoe-assembly A will for brevity be here omitted. Sufiice to say that the upper a and insole b may be of any suitable materials and of selected shoe-sizes and dimensions, it being particularly noted that the standard metallic or fiber shank stiffener usually now an essential part of present day shoes is entirely omitted.

D designates what may be descriptively termed a combined shank support and outer sole memher. This member D is preferably constructed of wood, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, but may also be constructed of any suitable plastic or other non-metallic rigid material, as illustrated in Figure 6. Whether the member D be constructed of wood, plastic, or other such material, the member D in plan and section has the form, shape, and. contour best seen in Figures 4, 7, 8, and 9. As there shown, the member D is both longitudinally and laterally of such shape and contour and of such centraland marginal thickness as to meet the requirements and conform with the contour and shape of the central or shank-portion of the particular shoe of which it is to become a part, such, for instance, as the finished shoe of Figure 1.

In detail, it may be said that the member D includes a main or body-portion d and a longitudinally extending tongue d, the body-portion d 5 transversely and lengthwise, both upon its outer and inner surfaces, being of such arcuate shape and of suchdimensions and central thickness and marginal thinness to conform neatly and artistically to the central or shank-portion of the shoebody A, and the tongue d being reduced both in. width and thickness relatively to the rear end portion of the body-portion d as to fit the shoebody A intermediate the inturnedfiange I of the upper a, as best seen in Figure 8.

I may add that, by so reducing the tongue 11'" in thickness and width relatively to the bodyportion 11, the body-portion d is providedwith a continuous transverse end-shoulder, as-atZ, for purposes presently appearing. Preferably also, the, body-portion d is skived at its forward-end, as at 3, and the member D, if constructedof wood. or other such material, is preferably, enclosed within a fabric or other such flexible. covering t of aselected suitable color.

Soshaped in contour for shoe and outer sole completing co-operation with the particular body A, the member D, in practice, is adhesively or otherwise firmly secured to. the body A with itsbody-portion d disposed upon the central iunder part or shank-portion thereof and with its tongue d fitting snugly within the seat orrecess provided under the insole b by. the inturned margin I of the upper a, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.

E designates what may betermedthe fore or ball-part of the outer sole of the shoe. Such member E is preferably constructed of suitable sole leather and is of such shape, contour, and-- dimensions as to fit artistically the forepart of the shoe-body A and. at its rear-portion-is ex---'= and upon the forepart of the shoe-body A and marginally over and upon the skived-forward end 3of the shank-member D, asillustrated in Figures 11 and 12.

F designates a heel, which I' prefer to use in completing-the finished shoe illustrated in Figure 1. The heel P, which may be Cuban, Louis, or. other type or shape, includes a bodyfconstructedf preferably of wood and having. a covering .1" of, any suitable material adhesively or otherwise fixed thereupon, with a lift 6, theheel E being hollowed out or recessed, as at i, initsupper face.- for suitably accommodating; and. seating. the tongue 03 of the shank-member. D.

In practice, the heel. F is first-suitably seated! at its rim to and upon the heel-seat'oftheshoe--- 5 body A with itsehollowed upper face"! over andhousing the tongue at and with thershoulder i. of the shank-piece or member D snugly abutting: its breast-margin B,the shank-member 'D at its? said shoulder 2 and the heelF at its breast-mar:- gin 8 conforming substantially, in; transverse"; width for neatness and artistic. appearance; The: heel. .Fcis thensuitablysecured, as byznailsmr thei like .9; to: and uponsthe. shoeebodyrAiaccordingjo 1= present manufacturing methods, a standard suitable sock lining G completing the shoe.

As so constructed, I not only effect a great economy in leather, in that I entirely omit the present or standard type of outer sole including its shank and heel portions and attached apron for the breast of the shoe-heel, but also eliminate entirely the employment of the present day metal or fiber. shank stiffeners, the member D functioning most efficiently in not only completing the outer sole, but in providing a rigid shank and support for the shoe as a whole. I may add that the sole-member not only effects a great saving in leather, but at the same time enables-andeifects a far more rigid uniform fit and suppolt for the entire rear-portion of the shoe than i's'obtainable with present one-piece outer sole and; shank-stiifener equipped shoes. My new shoe may be readily and conveniently manufactured and effects further savings and economies, in that the cost of production and of parts. of my new shoe is considerably less than is involved in connection with the manufacture ofstandard shoes.

It should be. understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the shoe may be made and substituted forthose herein shown and described without departing from the nature and-principleof my invention.

Having thus described. my; invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. In a shoe, a shoe-body including a lasted upper and insole, in combination with an outer sole comprising .a rigid-shank-member of longitudinal and transverse arch, contour, and dimensions corresponding to, and fixed. to and underlyingly upon, the shank-portion of the shoe-body, a short sole fixed to and underlyingly upon the forepart of the shoe-body, and a .heel fixed to and upon the heel-seat of the shoe-body and at its-breast abutting the rear. portion of the body of the shankemember.

2. In a shoe, a shoe-body including a lasted. upper and insole, in combination withan'outer sole comprising a rigid shankememberof longitudinal andtransverse arch, contour, andldimensions corresponding to, and fixed to. and underlyingly upon, the shank-portion of? the shoe-body, said shank-member. being skived at its front end and at said end. terminating to the rearofth'e ball-portion of "the shoe-body, a short sole fixed'toand unde'rlyingly uponthe forepart of the shoe-body and "at its rear being extended "and skived for overlapping connection to and upon the skived front end-portion of the shank nember; and a heel fixed to and upon the heel-seat of the shoe-body and at. itsbreast abutting therear portion of'the body of the shank-member.

3. In a shoe, a shoe-body including a lasted upper and insole; incombination with an i'outer sole comprising a rigid shank mem'ber of longi-' tudinal and" transverse arch, contour; and di-' mensions corresponding to, and fixed to'and underlyingly upon, the shank-portion of" the shoebody, said shank-member being-skived at its frontend and at said end'terminatingto the rear of the ball-portionof theshoebody; a 0 flexible leather section fixed to --and underly-- ingly upon the-forepart'of the shoe body and 'at its. rear being extended andskived for overlapping connection to and upon the skived front end-portion of I the shank-member,- and 'a -heel fixed to and upon the heel-seat of the shoebody and at its breast abutting the rear portion of the body of the shank-member.

4. In a shoe, a shoe-body including a lasted upper and insole, in combination with an outer sole comprising a rigid shank-member of longitudinal and transverse arch, contour, and dimensions corresponding to, and fixed to and underlyingly upon, the shank-portion of the shoe-body, said shank-member embodying a body shouldered at its rear margin and a longitudinally extending tongue, a short sole fixed to and underlyingly upon the forepart of the shoe-body, and a heel fixed to and upon the heel-seat of the shoe-body and overlying said shank-member tongue, the heel at its breast abutting the shoulder of the shank-member.

5. In a shoe, a shoe-body including a lasted upper and insole, in combination with an outer sole comprising a rigid shank-member of longitudinal and transverse arch, contour, and dimensions corresponding to, and fixed to and underlyingly upon, the shank-portion of the shoe-body, said shank-member embodying a body shouldered at its rear margin and a longitudinally extending tongue, a short sole fixed to and underlyingly upon the forepart of the shoebody, and a heel having a recessed upper face fixed to and upon the heel-seat and the shoebody and overlying said shank-member-tongue, the heel at its breast abutting the shoulder of the shank-member.

6. In a shoe, a shoe-body including a lasted upper and insole, in combination with an outer sole comprising a rigid shank-member of longitudinal and transverse arch, contour, and dimensions corresponding to, and fixed to and upon, the shank-portion of the shoe-body, said shank-member embodying a body skived at its front end and at said end terminating to the rear of the ball-portion of the shoe-body and shouldered at its rear margin and a longitudinally extending tongue, a flexible leather section fixed to and underlyingly upon the forepart of the shoe-body and at its rear being extended and skived for overlapping connection to and upon the skived front end-portion of the shankmember, and a heel having a recessed upper face fixed to and upon the heel-seat of the shoebody and overlying the shank-member tongue, the heel at its breast abutting the shoulder of the shank-member.

MARION B. BROWNE. 

